small talk

Hiding in the toilets or pretending to make an urgent phone call â€“ these are just two of the strategies for avoiding small talk that people have shared with me over the years. What should actually be an enjoyable experience is all too often seen as â€“ at best â€“ a necessary evil. If you […]

I expect weâ€™ve all been there: youâ€™re chatting to a colleague at lunch or a fellow participant at a conference when suddenly they come out with a question that you find much too personal. PerhapsÂ How much do you earn? orÂ When are you going to start a family? or Why aren’t you drinking tonight?Â Your first […]

In the past Iâ€™ve encouraged you to take an active role in small talk and given some ideas for what to talk about. Whenever you engage in small talk there does, of course, come a moment when it has to end. If you start a phone call or meeting with a little small […]